The Big Island of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Pictures and Videos

It was an amazing adventure on the Big Island of Hawaii. There is such a diversity of attractions and climates. Here are some personal photos and videos I took of a smoking, volcano in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The smell of sulfur was strong at times and the wind was blowing pretty hard.

The visitors center offered much useful information and films that were very educational about how a volcano forms, erupts and its results.

We were warned where and not to go: for instance —"Stay away from the lava shelf!" The lava shelf "bench" can be several acres of land that appears to be stable in many places, overlapping the ocean like a lava beach front (which allot of the Big Island's beaches are black lava). They said not too long ago a group of tourist went out on the lava shelf and it broke apart, sending the people plunging into the ocean, some to their deaths.

There are steam vents everywhere near the volcano. Steam vents is where gasses and steam are emitted through the earths surface. Several places are safe enough to touch as long as you're cautious. It is interesting to say the least, knowing its part of volcanic activity.

Walking through the lava tube was fantastic. A lava tube is a natural tunnel once occupied by flowing lava, after solidified created an amazing formation you can walk through like a cave.

The lava tube is wet and echos just like a cave, different heights and formations of lava all around. Its a neat feeling that something so intense and powerful flowed where you are walking, (especially when you watch videos of hot lava in action) puts things in perspective and adds the "AWE" factor.